Network Topology

The network topology view provides an interactive visualization of your virtual machines and their network connections.

Overview

The topology uses D3.js to render a force-directed graph showing:

• Virtual machines as nodes
• Networks as connection points
• Links between VMs and networks

Node Types

Virtual Machines

Networks

Orange nodes represent virtual networks:

• default - NAT network for internet access
• isolated - Private network for VM-to-VM communication
• bridged - Direct host network access

Routers

Blue nodes represent virtual routers (Elster OS VMs configured as routers).

Interaction

Mouse Controls

Node Details

Click a node to view:

• VM name and state
• IP addresses
• CPU/Memory allocation
• Connected networks
• Action buttons (Start, Stop, Console)

Hover Information

Hover over any node to see:

• Quick status summary
• Network connections
• Resource usage

Layout

Auto-Layout

The topology automatically arranges nodes using force simulation:

• Connected nodes cluster together
• Networks act as connection hubs
• Layout stabilizes after loading

Manual Arrangement

Drag nodes to create your preferred layout:

• Positions are preserved during session
• Reset layout with the refresh button
• Export layout for documentation

Network Configuration

Creating Networks

1. Click Create Network button
2. Enter network name
3. Select network type:
   • NAT (default)
   • Isolated
   • Bridged
4. Configure IP range (optional)
5. Click Create

Network Types

Connecting VMs

When creating a VM, select networks to connect:

1. Primary network (first interface)
2. Additional networks (optional)

VMs can connect to multiple networks for complex topologies.

Example Topologies

Simple Server

[Internet] ── [NAT Network] ── [Web Server VM]

Client-Server Testing

[Client VM] ─┬─ [Test Network] ─┬─ [Server VM]
             │                   │
             └─── [NAT] ────────┘

Multi-Tier Application

[Load Balancer] ── [Frontend Network] ── [Web VMs (x3)]
                           │
                   [Backend Network]
                           │
                      [Database VM]

Filtering

Use the filter controls to:

• Show only running VMs
• Filter by network
• Search by name
• Show/hide networks

Export

Export the topology for documentation:

• PNG - Screenshot image
• SVG - Vector graphic
• JSON - Topology data

Real-Time Updates

The topology updates automatically when:

• VM state changes (start/stop)
• New VM created
• Network modified
• Connection changed

WebSocket connections ensure instant updates without refreshing.

Troubleshooting

Nodes Overlapping

Click the Reset Layout button to re-run the force simulation.

Missing Connections

Verify the VM has the network interface configured in libvirt.

Slow Performance

For large deployments (50+ VMs), consider:

• Filtering to relevant VMs
• Disabling animation
• Reducing update frequency